Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources § NR 500.08 - Exemptions

(1) GENERAL. The following facilities are exempt from all requirements of chs. NR 500 to 538:

(a) Facilities used for the disposal of solid waste from a single family or household on the property where it is generated.

(b) Riprapping projects using inert solid waste materials approved by the department under s. 30.12, Stats., or in submerged shorelands in Lake Michigan, the title to which has been granted by the state to a municipality.

(2) OTHER FACILITIES. The following facilities shall be established in conformance with the locational requirements of s. NR 504.04 (3) (c) and (4) (a) to (f) and shall be operated and maintained in a nuisance-free and aesthetic manner but are exempt from licensing and the requirements of chs. NR 500 to 538:

(a) Facilities where only clean soil, brick, building stone, concrete or reinforced concrete not painted with lead-based paint, broken pavement, and wood not treated or painted with preservatives or lead-based paint are disposed.

(b) Facilities for the exclusive disposal of spoils from sand, gravel or stone and crushed stone quarry operations and similar nonmetallic earth materials.

(c) Facilities for the disposal of wood residue from a saw mill, debarker or equivalent industry which produces less than 5,000 board feet of lumber per year or equivalent and the total disposal facility volume is less than 500 cubic yards of wood residue.

(d) Facilities where railroad ties or utility poles are used as structural timbers for landscaping purposes in accordance with generally accepted practices.

(e) Facilities where untreated, unpainted wood wastes including wood chips, bark, and sawdust are handled and stored properly and used for landscaping or trail surface course purposes in accordance with generally accepted practices.

(f) Facilities where glass is processed or used as an aggregate replacement in asphalt pavement and subbase material under roadways subject to the following:

1. Glass may not be used in areas where the glass will be exposed and may pose a safety threat or in areas that will be frequently disturbed.

2. The amount of contaminants present with the glass such as labels, caps and metal rings shall be minimized to the extent necessary to prevent interference with the performance of the asphalt or roadbed aggregate. Asphalt and roadbed aggregate containing glass shall be designed and used in accordance with generally accepted engineering practice. The glass shall have sufficient properties to perform the function of the aggregates it replaces. The use of glass particles greater than 1/2 inch in size requires written department approval.

3. Glass shall be collected and stored in a nuisance free manner. Glass stockpiles shall have controlled access to prevent the general public from coming in contact with the glass piles. The number of stockpiles shall be kept to a minimum and may not be spread over a large area. Stockpiles shall be placed on a hard, all weather surface such as asphalt or concrete.

(3) DREDGED MATERIAL EXEMPTIONS. The following facilities are exempt from the licensing and plan review requirements of chs. NR 500 to 538 but shall be developed in accordance with the following requirements:

(a) Facilities for the disposal of nonhazardous dredged material consisting of less than 3000 cubic yards from Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, the Wisconsin river, the Sheboygan river, the Milwaukee river, the Brule and Menominee rivers, the Fox river, the Mississippi river, or from any inland lakes or ponds treated with arsenicals provided the facility complies with the performance standards specified in s. NR 504.04 (4).

(b) Facilities for the disposal of non-hazardous dredged material from rivers not listed in par. (a) provided the facility complies with the performance standards specified in s. NR 504.04 (4).

(c) Facilities for the disposal of nonhazardous dredged material from inland lakes or ponds that have not been treated with arsenicals provided the facility complies with the performance standards specified in s. NR 504.04 (4).

(4) EXEMPTIONS FROM SOLID WASTE RULES. Exemptions from the requirements of chs. NR 500 to 538 may be granted in writing by the department in special cases except as otherwise provided. A person may apply for an exemption by providing the department with a written request along with the appropriate documentation that demonstrates that the proposal will not cause environmental pollution as defined under s. 299.01(4), Stats. The department shall take into account such factors as the population of the area being served, the amount of waste being generated, the geologic and hydrogeologic conditions at the facility, the design of the facility, the operational history of the facility, the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste, and any other information that may be appropriate. The department shall review and make a written determination on the exemption request within 65 business days after receipt of a complete request and the appropriate review fee under ch. NR 520 unless a different time period is provided by law. An exemption may not be granted if it will result in noncompliance with the minimum federal requirements under Subtitle D.

(5) BENEFICIAL REUSE.

(a) The department may grant exemptions from the requirements of ch. 289, Stats., for the purpose of allowing or encouraging the recycling of solid wastes. Any exemptions granted under this section shall be issued in writing in accordance with the requirements of s. 289.43, Stats.

(b) Facilities where wood ash is stored, handled, transported or landspread provided either of the following is met:

1. Wood ash is derived from the combustion of untreated wood with no additives, preservatives or other alterations other than kiln drying from generators who produce 10 dry tons or less of ash per year and is managed in a nuisance free manner.

2. Wood ash is managed in accordance with s. NR 518.04 (6).

(6) REMEDIATION ACTION EXEMPTION. The following facilities are exempt from solid waste program regulatory requirements under ch. 289, Stats., and chs. NR 500 to 538:

(a) Facilities for the treatment, storage or disposal of solid waste which is excavated for the primary purpose of conducting a site investigation or implementing an interim or remedial action in compliance with the requirements of chs. NR 700 to 726 and which is returned to the same property from which it was excavated in compliance with the requirements of ch. NR 718; and

(b) Facilities for the treatment, storage or disposal of excavated contaminated soil which are operated in compliance with the requirements of ch. NR 718.

Notes

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources § NR 500.08

Cr. Register, January, 1988, No. 385, eff. 2-6-88; cr. (6), Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; am. (1) (intro.), (2), (3) (intro.), (4) and (5), cr. (2) (d), (e), (f) and (3) and (5) (c), r. (3) (a), renum. (3) (b) to be (3) (a), Register, June, 1996, No. 486, eff. 7-1-96; am. (1) (intro.), (2) (intro.), (3) (intro.), (4), (6) (intro.), r. (5) (b) and renum. (5) (c) to be (5) (b), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98; am. (3) (a), Register, September, 1998, No. 513, eff. 10-1-98; CR 05-020: am. (2) (a) Register January 2006 No. 601, eff. 2-1-06. Amended by, CR 21-076: am. (4) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8/1/2022.